Sealing means for the cable inlet of a terminal connector



' R. P. GUTTERMAN 2,548,896 SEALING MEANS FOR THE CABLE INLET. OF ATERMINAL CONNECTOR Filed Dec. 11, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 17, 1951arwe/wto'b R. B (Zuiierman April 17, 1951 R. P. GUTTERMAN 2,548,895 ISEALING MEANS FOR THE CABLE INLET OF A TERMINAL CONNECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet2 I Filed Dec. 11. 1945 tizl/lierman Patented Apr. 17, 1951 SEALINGMEANS FOR THE CABLE INLET OF A TERMINAL CONNECTOR Robert P. Gutterman,Arlington, Va.-

Application December 11, 1945, Serial No. 634,345

1 Claim.

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

This invention relates generally to electrical cable connectors and moreparticularly to new and improved designs therefor adapted to increasethe effectiveness of the electrical connection between the cable and itsassociated conamended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) nector undercertain critical conditions of use thereof.

In the use of cable connectors, for example, in

certain types of underwater ordnance gear such as mines, depth charges,and the like, it frequently becomes necessary to prevent water fromcoming into contact with the electrical connections between the cableand connector in order to avoid electrical leakage between the severalconductors and/or between the connector and the conductors, whicheverthe case may be.

A broad object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide newand improved methods and means for forming a simple and efiectivewatertight seal between the electrical cable and the connectorassociated therewith.

Another object is to provide a watertight seal between the connector andthe cable in which the means comprising the seal therebetween alsoserves to secure the connector to the cable.

Still another object is to provide a watertight seal between theconnector and a cable inwhich is prevented.

' The more specific objects, features and ad-,

vantages of the present invention are those inherent in or implied fromthe novel methods of construction, combination and arrangement of partsas will become more clearly apparent from .the following detaileddescription of a preferred embodiment of the inventionand a modificationthereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig.1 is a plan view of a connector having a cable connected theretoaccording to the preferred embodiment of the invention, certain parts ofthe connector being shown in. section to illustrate the manner andmethod of ,the connection;

Fig. .2 is a sectional view of a conventional soldering ferrule;

chafing between the sealing means and the cable Fig. 5 is a sectionalview of apparatus for 2" ing operation on the ferrule of a conventionaltype connector.

Referring now to the drawings for a more complete understanding of theinvention and more particularly to Figs. 1 through 3 thereof, it will beseen that a rubber covered electrical cable [0 is secured to a connectorII which may be of any conventional type, the conductor or conductors,as the case may be, of the cable being secured to the terminals of theconnector in the usual manner.

The particular means by which the connector is secured to the cableincludes a sleeve l2 which may be formed of any material suitable forthe purpose such, for example, as rubber or a synthetic variety thereofand having an inner diameter which is less than that of the cablewhereby the diameter of the cable'is reduced or necked down underpressure of the sleeve when itis forced onto the cable, thereby to forma watertight connection therebetween.

Sleeve l2 thus forms, in effect, a shoulderon the cable, which shoulderis adapted to'be engaged under pressure by a conventional soldering typeferrule 13 having an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter ofthe sleeve whereby a substantially watertight connection is alsoprovided therebetween. Such ferrules are usually employed in connectionwith armoured or shielded electrical cables and are usually providedwith an inner projection or inturned flange portion [4 which extendsbeyond the armour or shielding into contact with the rubber coverin ofthe cable. Projection 14, as employed herein, serves to fix the positionof the ferrule on the sleeve 12, and the ferrule is secured thereto bycrimping the end of the ferrule about the end of the sleeve as at l5.Crimping of the ferrule in excess of as illustrated in each of Figs. 1and 4, compresses the resilient sleeve between the ferrule and the cablewhereby an annular bulge 30 of the sleeve is formed between the crimpedend of the ferrule and the cable to prevent chafing between the cableand ferrule. V The ferrule also is provided with an external projectionor outturned flange portion l6 which is adapted to be engaged as in theusual manner by the standard clamping unit ll to move the ferruleforcibly into abutment with the threaded body portion 18 of theconnector, a copper gasket I9 preferably being interposed between themain body portion and the ferrule to insure a watertight connectiontherebetween.

Referring now to Fig. l in which the alternate form of the invention isillustrated, it will be seen that the electrical cable 28 has an annularrubber shoulder 2| formed integrally therewith as by being molded orvulcanized to the rubber or sheath covering 22, the ferrule and manner 3of assembly thereof with respect to shoulder 2| otherwise being the sameas in the case of the preferred embodiment.

Referring now to Fig. 5 wherein one form of apparatus is illustrated forcrimping the end of ferrule 13 before the ferrule is secured toconnector II, it will be seen that the apparatus includes a split die 23having a bore or opening 24 extending therethrough or otherwise suitablyformed therein for receiving either of the cables E or 20, asillustrated, when die halves 23A and 23B are assembled and held togetherby any suitable means (not shown). Bore 24 terminates at a formingsurface 25, Fig. 6, having a contour designed to give the desiredcrimping effect to the ferrule, the end of the ferrule preferably beingturned in excess of 90", as illustrated in each of Figs. 1 and 4,whereby the rubber sleeve l2 or shoulder 2|, as the case may be, iscompressed and firmly held thereby, the degree of turning of the ferrulebeing controlled by a stop (not shown) as is well known in the art.

7 A sleeve 25 adapted to receive the cable and the conductors thereof isabutted against the shoulder l6 of the ferrule whereby pressure appliedto sleeve 26 from press member 21 is transferred to the ferrule, therebyto force the end of the same into the forming surface 25 of die the diebeing positioned on the platen or bed 28.0f the press which is providedwith a suitable opening 29 therein through which the cable passes incases in which the cable extends through the bottom surface of the die.The ferrule preferably is formed of a material suitable for the purposesuch, for example, as soft brass whereby the crimping operation isfacilitated.

In Fig. 7 the apparatus of Fig. is used to perform a crimping operationon a ferrule employed with a conventional type of connector in whichtheconhector and cable may be fully assembled .1

when the crimping operation is performed.

The methods involving the aforedescribed steps of forming a watertightseal between the electrical cable and its associated connector may bestbe understood from the following specific example which consists inplacing a rubber-like sleeve on the cable so as to form a shoulderthereon at a predetermined distance from the end thereof, placing asoldering type ferrule on the shoulder such that the inner projection onthe ferrule abuts the shoulder, and crimping the end of the ferrule overthe corresponding end of the shoulder sufiiciently to compress theshoulder into watertigh-t relation with the cable and ferrule and tosecure the ferrule thereto.

From the foregoing, it should now be apparent that novel methods andmeans have been provided for establishing a simple and effectivewatertight seal between the electrical cable and its conhector.Moreover, it will be appreciated that such which it more nearlyappertains, after understanding the invention, that the invention may beembodied in diverse forms involving diverse methods of fabrication ofthe parts thereof without departing from thespirit and scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claim.

The invention herein described and claimed may be manufactured and usedby or for the Government of the United States of America forgovernmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon ortherefor.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

A cable connection comprising a rubbersheathed electric cable having anecked-down portion, a ferrule having a longitudinally extendingcylindrical portion terminating at one end thereof in an inwardly andoutwardly laterally extending flange portion and at the other end in aninwardly and substantially arcuately shaped portion describing an arc inexcess of and overhanging one end of the necked-down portion, saidinwardly extending flange portion having one surface portion thereof inengagement with the cable and another surface portion overhanging theother end of said necked-down portion of the cable whereby an annularwedge-shaped space is defined therebetween, a substantially cylindricalresilient shoulder of flowable material interposed between the ferruleand the necked-down portion and having an inner diameter smaller thanthe outer diameter of the cable and an outer diameter substantiallygreater than the inner diameter of the cylindrical portion of theferrule prior to assembly of said device whereby the shoulder is undercompression between the cable and the cylindrical portion, ananti-chafing bulge integral with said shoulder and positioned betweenthe arcuately shaped portion of the ferrule and said one end of thenecked-down portion, an annular wedge-shaped seal portion integral withsaid shoulder and positioned within said annular wedge-shaped space, anda ring nut in engagement with said outwardly laterally extending flangeportion.

ROBERT P. GUTTERMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS England Apr. 14, 1927

